Perhaps these words echoed in the minds of parishioners. “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Welcome to Saint Austin Catholic Church. It is colloquially known as St. Austin. This church has a rich history.
The Paulist Fathers founded Saint Austin Catholic Church in 1908. The first church opened on Christmas Day in 1908. This was inspired by Pope Pius X’s call to teach Christian doctrine. He wanted this taught in universities, colleges, and secondary schools.
In 1915, Dominican Sisters established Holy Rosary School. They wanted to share Catholic intellectual wealth. This was for public school students in Austin. By 1941, the school relocated. It was renamed St. Austin and included eight grades.
For over 100 years, the parish and school grew. But it was confined by the growing city. In 2016, parishioners decided to grow their mission upward. They wanted to reach toward heaven. The result was a six-story building. It houses parish offices and the school.
The first floor has receptionists and meeting rooms. These are for the parish and the school. Primary school classrooms are on the second floor. The third floor has classrooms for older grades. It also includes a library and art studio. There is even a podcast studio and Robo 3D printers. The fourth floor is for future expansion. Parish ministries occupy the fifth floor. A basketball court is on the sixth floor.
Paulist Father Charles R. Kullmann has served as pastor since 2010. He had experience with urban parishes. These were in New York City and San Francisco. He worked with cosmopolitan building issues. He credits Christopher Kennedy and Patricia “Trish” Dolese. They encouraged parishioners to embrace a novel idea.
Kennedy suggested razing everything except the church. They would rebuild the school and parish facilities from scratch. This would be on half of the church’s land. The parish would lease the other half to a developer. The rent would pay for the new structure.
Saint Austin leased an acre to a developer. They built a 29-story building. It houses UT students. Saint Austin financed construction with cash. This came from a ground lease payment. They also used a bank loan and taxable bonds. The project provides revenue for nearly 100 years.
Father Kullman noted the sweat equity involved. Parishioners helped tremendously. They moved the school and church offices. The parish relocated to a rental house. A Good Shepherd committee prayed for the parish. This ensured the building project did not tear the parish apart.
The parish also hired professionals. They received support from the diocese. The current church building was dedicated on September 25, 1953. In 2018, Sixthriver oversaw a renovation. This included repairs to the exterior stone facade. It enhanced the entrances and renovated the restrooms. The multi-story building dates back to 1952. It features varying levels and a six-story tower.
Saint Austin Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith. It showcases community collaboration. It embraces innovative solutions. It continues to serve its parish. It enriches the Austin community.